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TV, Quentin Tarantino and comedy come together on Go Fact Yourself! Sasheer Zamata, best known for her role on “Saturday Night Live” and host of the variety showcase "Sasheer Zamata Party Time" will take on will take on Samm Levine, who’s appeared in such notable works as “Freaks and Geeks” and Inglorious Bastards. Among all the trivia, they’ll also discuss space, personal possessions and celebrity guests on TV shows. Show notes

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Go Fact Yourself

Twice a month, host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong bring together the smartest celebrities they know and make them look dumb...and then smart again! Recorded before a live audience in downtown Los Angeles, this game show features comedians, actors and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don't worry, if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!

If you're in the Los Angeles area and would like to be in the audience for a podcast taping, get your free ticket at http://www.gofactyourpod.com!

Join us for a double header live taping of Go Fact Yourself, a game show podcast from J. Keith van Straaten, Jim Newman, and Maximum Fun. Go Fact Yourself features comedians, actors and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don't worry, if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!

Matt Besser is a comedian, actor, writer, director and founding member of The Upright Citizens Brigade. He also hosts the weekly podcast improv4humans. He tells J. Keith about the two word prompts he’s banned at shows (hint: one’s a type of fruit and the other is a type of animal), and how it came about that he’s featured on his very own Topps baseball card.

In this episode, we’ll learn about how Matt adapted the visual format of improv to an audio-only medium, how Lyric used astrology to sort out potential dating prospects, and why Matt claims his memory is spotty, even though Lyric has a hard time believing him.

What’s the difference?

What’s the difference between “damping” and a “dampening”?

What’s the difference between “club soda” and “seltzer?”

Areas of Expertise

Matt Besser: Arkansas cults, Arkansas Razorback football post-1978 and the film Repo Man

Glynn Washington is the host and creator of the public radio show Snap Judgment. Fun fact: He actually got his radio show started by winning a radio contest. Snap Judgment is all about “storytelling with a beat,” and, with a little help from Helen Hong, Glynn will explain why.

Alison Becker is an actress who’s perhaps best known for playing Shauna Malwae-Tweep on Parks and Recreation (people still recognize her for it to this day). She’s also the star of the Max Fun Podcast Bubble.

In this episode, we’ll learn about Glynn’s attitude towards producing quality stories, why puppets are a perfect way to combat social justice issues and Alison’s amazing moment where she made out with Jon Bon Jovi, one of her musical heroes.

What’s the difference?
What’s the difference between a “lake” and a “pond”?

What’s the difference between an “arrowsmith” and a “fletcher?”

Areas of Expertise
Glynn Washington: The original Star Trek, the New King James Bible, Michael Jackson.

Tom Bergeron has been a fixture on ABC for decades, hosting shows like Dancing with the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos.

In this episode, we’ll hear about Jodi’s experience on America’s Got Talent and why her relationship with her cat might be an abusive one. We’ll also learn about Tom’s career as a host and a particularly embarrassing moment that he had to deal with on television.

Louis Virtel is a comedian and a co-host of the podcast Keep It. He’s also the winner of Jeopardy, whose Double Jeopardy celebration went viral shortly after it aired on TV.

Laraine Newman returns to Go Fact Yourself, this time as a contestant. Newman is best known as an original cast member of the Not Ready for Primetime Players on Saturday Night Live, and she was a founding member of the legendary Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. If she sounds familiar to you, you may recognize her as the voice of Crab Lady on SpongeBob SquarePants, Nana from Trollhunters: Tale of Arcadia and lots of other shows.

In this episode, we’ll learn how Louis’s love of publicly answering trivia questions stems from a 3rd-grade spelling bee that he came up short in and why the winners of Jeopardy love keeping in touch with each other after their victories. Laraine will explain why she never tires of hearing people announce her name in the fashion of SNL’s Don Pardo, and how she decides what the voice of each of her characters sound like.

What’s the difference?

What’s the difference between a “thumbs up” sign and the “okay” sign in SCUBA diving?

What’s the difference between a “Dead-End” and a “No-Outlet” on the road?

In this episode, we’ll learn about Jonathan’s experience with having his book transformed into a movie and why, for all his literary expertise, he still has trouble pronouncing certain words. We’ll also hear more about Janet’s involvement at the annual Sketchfest and why she enjoys talking to women about their awkward teen years. And both Janet and Jonathan wonder what Jodie Foster is up to while they are on stage. Is she watching TV with someone while getting a nice neck massage? We may never learn the answer to that question. But GFY listeners will learn other things by listening to this episode.

What’s the difference?

What’s the difference between a “Presidential Pardon” and “Presidential Commutation”?

What’s the difference between “Avenge” and “Revenge”?

Areas of Expertise
Jonathan Ames: 1990’s New Knicks, Detective Novels/Noir Literature and the works of Pema Chodron.
Janet Varney: Jodie Foster movies from the 1970’s to the 1990’s, New York Times crossword puzzles, Alt. Rock 1990’s bands

Go Fact Yourself is a live game show recorded as a podcast for the Maximum Fun network. Host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong bring together the smartest celebrities they know and make them look dumb… and then smart again!

TWO SHOWS ONLY! Join us for a special NYC live taping of Go Fact Yourself, a game show podcast from J. Keith van Straaten, Jim Newman, and Maximum Fun. Go Fact Yourself features comedians, actors and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don’t worry, if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!

Go Fact Yourself is a live game show recorded as a podcast for the Maximum Fun network. Host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong bring together the smartest celebrities they know and make them look dumb… and then smart again!

TWO SHOWS ONLY! Join us for a special NYC live taping of Go Fact Yourself, a game show podcast from J. Keith van Straaten, Jim Newman, and Maximum Fun. Go Fact Yourself features comedians, actors and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don’t worry, if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!

Susan Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker and the author of books like The Orchid Thief.

Paul F. Tompkins is a comedian whose voice you’ll recognize as the character Mr. Peanutbutter on Bojack Horseman.

In this episode, we learn about why Paul can’t stop spoiling upcoming episodes of Bojack Horseman for his wife, and why he should be considered the king of coining new catchphrases. And we’ll also learn which animals in Susan’s life have been named after characters from Bojack (hint: not horses), and why it’s important to learn the title of an author’s book before interviewing her in a public forum. Plus, Susan explains more about her upcoming book and Paul discusses what makes him love podcasting so much.

Do YOU Know the Difference?

What’s the difference between a “Labyrinth” and a “Maze”?

What’s the difference between “Distinguish” and “Discern”?

Areas of Expertise
Susan Orlean: Women’s fashion, 80’s music from the Congo and chicken husbandry
Paul F Tompkins: SCTV, Neil Gaiman’s comic The Sandman and the film Jaws

In this episode, we learn about the time Jackie Kashian’s father hit on Maria Bamford...at Jackie’s wedding. To find out how Maria reacted, take a listen. Also, if anyone books a guest-starring role on NBC’s Speechless, John Ross Bowie will not only have your back, but he’ll show you where the craft service table is on set. Plus, if you ever wondered, “What’s it like growing up in the Theater District in New York?”, you’ll soon find out.

Do YOU Know the Difference?

Areas of Expertise
John Ross Bowie: The West Wing, Stephen Sondheim and 1986 New York Mets
Jackie Kashian: Marvel Comics since 2004, Romance Novels, and Chicken.